Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP > Tokyo, Japan > Firm Profile

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Offices

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
IZUMI GARDEN TOWER, 28TH FLOOR
1-6-1 ROPPONGI, MINATO-KU
TOKYO 106-6028
Japan
Visit website 81 3 3224 2900 81 3 3224 2901

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Japan > Dispute resolution: International firms and joint ventures Tier 1

The Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s dispute team is at the forefront of data protection and cyber security disputes, while also having a broad international arbitration and dispute resolution practice. The Tokyo team led by Shinsuke Yakura , also advises on complex white collar-defence, whistle-blower, anti-bribery and anti-corruption matters for both Japanese and international clients in cross-border matters. Yakura specialises in arbitration and litigation proceedings, and is also head of the firm’s Japan practice. Also of note is associate Haruka Matsumoto, who supports the team's commercial dispute practice, particularly in the labour and employment sectors. Recent instructions for the team include representing NEC in a dispute against Micron Technology in relation to a cartel investigation on D-RAM products.

Practice head(s):

Shinsuke Yakura

Other key lawyers:

Haruka Matsumoto

Key clients

Canon Medical System Corporation

Daicel Corporation

Fujifilm Health Care

Morinaga Milk Industry

NEC Corporation

Nomura Holdings

Sanei International

Toyota Motor Corporation

WeWork Japan

Japan > Intellectual property: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2

The Tokyo IP team at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP has extensive experience representing international and Japanese clients across the food, chemical, and technology industries. Comprising patent attorneys and attorneys at law, the firm is regularly instructed on Japan and international patent disputes and SEP licensing disputes. The firm also provides comprehensive advice in copyright and trademark actions, unfair competition matters, and trade secret issues. Led by Shinsuke Yakura , the practice also handles non-contentious work such as portfolio management and licensing. The firm is also adept at advising on matters involving AI, the IoT and big data technology legal issues. At a non-partner level, Masao Fujino and Anri Nakamoto are key contacts.

Practice head(s):

Shinsuke Yakura

Other key lawyers:

Masao Fujino; Anri Nakamoto

Japan > Labour and employment: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2

The Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP employment and labour practice focuses on representing global companies in disputes. The firm offers a global employment and equity compensation practice to provide comprehensive, cross-office assistance and advice for employment litigation and transactional matters. The team is led by Yumiko Ohta whose experience encompasses advising foreign companies and subsidiaries in developing and implementing employment strategies for their Japanese operations. At a non-partner level, Kane Huang  and Yusuke Kobayashi are key members in the team.

Practice head(s):

Yumiko Ohta

Other key lawyers:

Kane Huang; Yusuke Kobayahi

Japan > Projects and energy: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s renewable energy practice is known for advising on some of the region’s largest wind and solar projects. The team covers both inbound and outbound work, and handles both onshore and offshore projects. Yoichi Katayama, who acts for multinational developers and financial institutions in international power, telecoms and other infrastructure projects, leads the team, which also includes Minako Wakabayashi who focuses on project financings and Yoko Inui who remains a key contact for permits and real estate matters for inbound renewable energy projects.

Practice head(s):

Yoichi Katayama

Other key lawyers:

Minako Wakabayashi; Yuko Inui

Key clients

Afterfit K.K.

Future Asset Management KK

Hergo Japan Energy

i-Access Energy GmbH

Invenergy Japan

juwi Shizen Energy Inc.

Shizen Energy

Obton A/S

Osaka Gas

Pacifico Energy

Pattern Energy Group LP and Green Power Investment Corporation

Work highlights

  • Advised Invenergy, a major international renewable energy developer and operator, on the development of two solar power projects totalling 35 MW AC located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, including for the recently closed project financing from Shinsei Bank for the construction and operation of the projects.
  • Advised Green Power Investment Corporation (“GPI”), an independent, fully integrated energy company that develops, constructs, owns and operates renewable energy projects and transmission assets across Japan, on its joint venture with Tohoku Electric Power Co., Ltd., a major utility in Japan.
  • Advised Invenergy on its joint venture with Tohoku Electric Power Co., Ltd., which will enable the continuation of the development of the 102 MW onshore wind facility, Inaniwa Wind Project in Iwate Prefecture.

Japan > Real estate and construction: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2

Yuko Ino leads the Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP international real estate practice, which handles an array of sophisticated real estate investments, complex cross-border real property and portfolio acquisitions, financings and joint ventures for a client roster of Japanese and global investors. Ino has significant expertise in crowd funding structures, joint venture arrangements, restructurings and workouts, and also advises Japanese companies on real estate outbound investment in the US, often as a joint venture capital partner.

Practice head(s):

Yuko Ino 

Testimonials

‘What makes this practice unique is the necessity of expertise in both domestic and international legal standards. There are only a limited number of firms that are able to provide both expertise, and out of them, Orrick stands out in their outstanding performance.’

‘Yuko Ino, has distinguishably high expertise in a variety of investment structures. She is capable of communicating globally within her organization precisely providing us with knowledge on new investment structures. I highly praise her for her problem solving capabilities, presentation skills and execution capabilities.’

Key clients

Fortress Investment Group Japan

Great Eagle / Langham Hotels Investment

Loadstar Capital

Westbrook Partners

Japan > Corporate and M&A: International firms and joint ventures Tier 3

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s Tokyo Corporate M&A team continues to play a notable role in the technology sector, and features fully bilingual professionals able to advise on key corporate, HR, litigation, antitrust/merger control, and compliance. The team is led by the duo Mark Weeks and Hiroki Sugita who lead a strong technology focused cross-border venture financing and start up advice practice. The team also is instructred by investors such as Paypal, Toyota Motor, and Mizuho securities.

Practice head(s):

Mark Weeks; Hiroki Sugita

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP > Firm Profile

The firm: Orrick is focused on serving clients in the technology and innovation, energy and infrastructure, and finance sectors globally. Founded more than 150 years ago, today the firm has 1,100+ lawyers focusing on key markets across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Its team of lawyers in Asia work seamlessly with its global team to provide the best and most responsive legal solutions for clients.

For over two decades, the firm’s lawyers in Tokyo have handled many of Japan’s cutting-edge domestic and cross-border transactions. With U.S. and Japanese law capabilities, the Tokyo team provide clients with comprehensive support in both languages and jurisdictions. As a result, Orrick is a preferred advisor to local and international companies with inbound and outbound business activities that require sophisticated cross-border legal solutions.

Areas of Practice:

Technology and Innovation
Leading Japan-based and multinational tech companies, private equity and venture capital firms turn to us for growth and investment strategies. We represent major Japanese and multinational companies, on inbound and outbound M&A, sales of closely held companies, corporate venture investments, IP and data strategies, and other strategic alliances. Our tech sector experience – automotive technology and mobility, e-commerce, life sciences, and fintech – helps support the fast-growing and disruptive tech market, with our client base including some of the biggest Japanese tech companies.

Corporate
Our lawyers in Japan provide clients with a unique combination of practical business experience and well-proven legal knowledge in key client industries. Our approach gives us a better understanding of our clients’ needs and their business goals, enabling us to provide them with superior legal services on transactional matters and valuable input with respect to strategic planning. This often includes identifying potential sources of financing and partners for strategic alliances and joint ventures. We advise clients in the areas of mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, emerging companies and venture capital, technology transactions and general corporate representation.

Energy and Infrastructure
The Orrick Japan team has long been at the forefront of the Asia renewable energy market with close ties to energy regulatory bodies and specialist renewable energy experience in solar, wind and biomass matters. Orrick has one of the leading global offshore wind platforms and teams in Asia working closely with our US and European teams on cross-border projects. We are a preferred advisor to local and international companies with inbound and outbound business activities that require sophisticated cross-border legal solutions.

Intellectual Property
We assist multinationals in all aspects of IP in Japan, the U.S. and beyond. Tokyo-based IP lawyers are known for handling complex disputes in Japanese courts with experience handling disputes involving the representation of plaintiffs and defendants in patent, copyright and trademark actions, as well as unfair competition and trade secret actions.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution
We offer companies one of the leading litigation platforms – including litigators who have experience understanding the unique risks and considerations Japan-based clients facing disputes around the world. We represent clients in commercial litigation, product liability, trade secrets misappropriation, intellectual property and regulatory investigations. We have a renowned international arbitration practice that represents clients and sovereign states before all major arbitral institutions.

Cyber, Privacy & Data Protection
Our Cyber, Privacy & Data Protection practice assist Japan-based and multinational corporations in their most critical privacy and cybersecurity projects at global and regional level. Our global reach and experience allow us to advise clients from a global regulatory perspective, adhere to differing compliance requirements, helping reconcile the varying legal requirements in multiple jurisdictions. We also work on the most demanding and urgent cybersecurity matters specific to each country and help multinational clients handle high-stakes cross-border investigations, litigation, and compliance matters.

Real Estate
Orrick’s Real Estate practice advises global and domestic international institutional investors on all aspects of complex real estate investment both to and from Japan, from sophisticated acquisitions, financings and joint ventures to dispositions, development and operating issues. At the forefront of the Asia-Pacific market, we guide our clients through their most complex commercial and legal issues. Our global team collaborates across borders, enabling us to provide seamless advice in any time zone.

Employment
Orrick’s Employment team has a wide range of experience related to complex issues encountered by employers in Japan, particularly in the context of the interconnected global economy. We go beyond the legal requirements and resolve problems in the most commercially acceptable way, taking into account the particular needs of each client’s business. We act as global employment counsel, providing a single point of contact solution for all of the client’s employment and employee-benefits needs in all countries of operation. Clients benefit from consistent and high-quality advice delivered efficiently and economically.

Main Contacts

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Antitrust and competition Shinsuke Yakurasyakura@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2922
Banking and finance Yoichi Katayamaykatayama@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2921
Corporate M&A Hiroki Sugitahsugita@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2953
Cybersecurity and data privacy Shinsuke Yakurasyakura@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2922
Employment Yumiko Ohtayohta@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2829
Energy and Infrastructure Yoichi Katayamaykatayama@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2921
Fintech Yuko Inoyino@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2908
Intellectual property Shinsuke Yakurasyakura@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2922
International arbitration Shinsuke Yakurasyakura@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2922
Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration Shinsuke Yakurasyakura@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2922
Mass torts and product liability Shinsuke Yakurasyakura@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2922
Real estate and finance Yuko Inoyino@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2908
Real Estate and Real Estate Finance Yuko Inoyino@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2908
Technology start-up and venture capital representation Hiroki Sugitahsugita@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2953
White-collar and corporate investigations Shinsuke Yakurasyakura@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2922
White-collar and Corporate Investigation Shinsuke Yakurasyakura@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2922
Structured Finance Yuko Inoyino@orrick.com+81 3 3224 2908

Staff Figures

Number of lawyers at this office : 20
in this country : 20
worldwide : 1,100

Languages

Chinese
English
Japanese